After a June 2012 fire destroyed the restroom and pavilion space at Walker Park, the Town of Atoka engaged A2H, Inc. to assist the community in re-imagining Walker Park. Located in the heart of Atoka's residential subdivisions, Walker Park has acres and acres of open land and offers a unique opportunity to host a variety of recreational uses for Atokans of all ages. The Parks & Recreation Advisory Board and interested citizens participated in community forums to identify new offerings and options to be included in an expanded Walker Park.

While the fire was unfortunate, it has provided an opportunity to lay out a new vision for the park and its role as a hub of recreational offerings in Atoka. New offerings envisioned by the master plan at Walker Park include 30,000 square feet of fenced dog park space, a sand volleyball court, additional playing fields, community garden space, new parking area, access to Pioneer Park via greenway trail, an expanded playground and a splash pad. The Board of Mayor and Aldermen received and adopted the Walker Park Master Plan on October 2, 2012.

Last fall, the Board of Mayor and Aldermen authorized the design of Walker Park Phase I to include a new restroom and concession building, an expanded plaza area, enhanced lighting, a splash pad, landscaping and pavilion space. The Board directed that the splash pad should operate as a recirculating system - saving literally millions of gallons of water every year that the splash pad is in operation.

On Tuesday, March 5, 2013 at 7 pm, the Board of Mayor and Aldermen approved the first two purchases related to Phase I of the Walker Park Master Plan. The Board authorized the purchase of fountains, pumps and equipment related to a 5,000 square foot splash pad and the purchase of four (4) sun shade structures. As the project has moved through the design process, sun shades have been added in place of hard-roof pavilions to increase the amount of shaded space available while reducing overall project cost. More than 1,600 square feet of covered space will be available under four shade structures on the plaza and around the splash pad.

A portion of Phase I will be funded using a grant from the Local Parks and Recreation Fund (LPRF) administered by the State of Tennessee's Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC).

On Tuesday, April 2, the Board of Mayor and Aldermen gave final approval on the Walker Park Phase I project and awarded a contract for construction to Barnes and Brower, Inc.

The project timeline calls for Phase I to be complete and open on July 5, 2013.